IN some parts of this city-state, cranes and workers are working together to dismantle bleachers that were erected for the annual F1 race that is played out on Singapore streets this time of the year.
The race is an annual spectacle that fills the air with the roar of Formula One engines as the rich and famous, as well as some political types, enjoy the show. I’ve always enjoyed watching F1 races from the comfort of my couch, which is far cheaper than booking a ticket to Singapore and finding out that hotel rooms are two or three times more expensive for the duration of the race period. But there really are race aficionados who make it a point to fly to wherever the races are being held because fast cars, alcohol and well-dressed models make up for a heady mix.
Not being rich, famous or a political type, I flew into Singapore after the race, when prices for hotel rooms were back to normal. But I am here for official business, and not for networking. And because my trip is official, my bosses have no reason to complain.
The same can’t be said of our President, though, who was here (if I am not mistaken) to enjoy the F1 race for the second year in a row. In his defense, the First Lady has stated that being in town when the rich and famous from all over the world are also in town is an excellent opportunity to network, and indeed it is. It should also be stated that in today’s world, you may be working even if you’re not at your regular place of work – thanks to technology (for one). So, even if a head of state or head of government were skiing in the Alps, boating in the French Riviera or gambling in Macao — well, maybe not this last one — he or she could still be hard at work.
‘… that tiny thing is to order the immediate implementation in the Philippines of the super-intelligent Immigration system in place at Changi Airport which makes ingress and egress such a breeze whether you’re a local or not.’
As I am sure our President was.
So, while I don’t see any reason to make a fuss about PBBM’s visit to this city-state, there is only one tiny thing I wish he would do: wave his magic wand and immediately his travels to Singapore would be more than paid for even for the next four years of his term. And that tiny thing is to order the immediate implementation in the Philippines of the super-intelligent Immigration system in place at Changi Airport which makes ingress and egress such a breeze whether you’re a local or not.
It only takes five minutes, maybe even less, if you just follow the procedure properly. At the first portal you will insert your passport ID page, face down (make sure you insert it fully) so that the computer can scan it; two swing doors open and you are confronted with a second portal where you press your right thumb down on the scanner as you gaze into a camera. Do that right, and in maybe 15 seconds a second set of swing doors open and, voila! — you’ve cleared Singapore Immigration.
It took me about a minute longer though because I kept pressing down with my right forefinger and wondering why the damn thing wouldn’t let me through. Then I heard a booming voice say “Your right thumb please” and only then did I realize my stupid mistake — for which I maybe should have been denied entry!
That’s my only ask of our traveling President as his “lesson learned” from Singapore. If necessary, get experts from Singapore to install that darn efficient system in our airports — and all his visits for F1 races become well worth it, and a proper reward.
What then do we do with the BI folks who will lose their jobs? Maybe we can have them monitor the airport security folk who enjoy having dollar bills for lunch.
Or better yet, we can set up BI outposts at the Panatag Shoal and require Chinese fishermen to go through our Jurassic immigration procedures before being allowed inside our territory to fish.
But enough of our inefficient procedures, Mr. President, when there are best practices right in Singapore that we can easily adopt.
Then again, because Presidents don’t go through the same procedures we do, maybe you can ask to be allowed to go through the system the next time you are back in Singapore so you can experience it yourself, sir.
